“Dwight (Howard) and I are the cornerstones of the Rockets,” said Harden. “The rest of the guys are role players or pieces that complete our team. We’ve lost some pieces and added some pieces. I think we’ll be fine next season.”

I’ll give Harden this, while the Rockets had a disappointing summer after striking out with Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh, they are not really worse than last year. I don’t like their depth as much, but if Harden and Howard can grow a little together this is as good a team as last season, maybe even a little better. Problem is that’s not enough to get the Rockets past the Spurs, Thunder and Clippers, maybe not even an improved Mavericks team.

Fans are funny and most times Fickle. Star Power Drives The NBA. Without at least 2 STARS on your probably not going to Win a Championship. The Rip H/C Billups/ Wallace(s) Pistons were The Exception to the Rule. Not the rule of thumb. Like it or not that just what it is. Howard and Harden are 2nd Tier stars.

I agree although I don’t really look at the 2004 Pistons team as an exception like others. Wallace was an All-Star but for defense. Billups and Rip were both All-Stars or rather on their way to becoming ones. The team was a defensive machine, and they had star quality guys, but just not ones people love to watch.

Rockets had THE deepest bench in the league, had the best record after January, and swept the Spurs in the regular season. Playoffs come, McHale suddenly changes the game plan. He sits everyone and fans have to watch Harden iso again and again, and lose. It’s a shame because we’re seeing now that they didn’t even understand what they had. It was special. They had the formula and they threw it away. Now it’s clear they’ve always wanted to be like every other team.

They were the exception plus Kobe tried to beat them all by himself. I just watched that series with a room full of Laker “fans’ to show them that Kobe wouldn’t be “chasing” his 6th ring, if he had only recognized that he was playing a team game that series, with 3 other HOF’ers on the floor.

I wonder why these so called cornerstones didn’t show up in the playoffs.Is it just me that expect the cornerstones to carry the role players at least past the first round of the playoffs.I guess they are not making cornerstones like they use to.

San Antonio Spurs: Duncan, Parker, Ginobili feel the TEAM is the cornerstone and they are just role players. The opposite of what Harden believes. That’s why they have 5 championships and Rockets do not.

Also – “Problem is that’s not enough to get the Rockets past the Spurs, Thunder and Clippers, maybe not even an improved Mavericks team.” Uh, also not good enough to get past Portland or Golden State, either.

You can say that every company needs cogs in the machine with no problem at all. But this is like the boss standing up in a meeting and telling everybody else they’re just cogs. Probably technically true, but not a real morale booster or team-building moment.

He didnt say anything wrong. Some people on this blog naively believe accepting the concept of team means not knowing what your role is. Also, they are mad because his comments insult cult hero Chandler Parsons, who has become the second coming of Larry Bird since signing with the Mavs.

You’re right, he didn’t say anything wrong. I’m not a Chandler Parsons fan, Rockets fan, but I am a James Harden fan. That said, this isn’t a great way to talk about your teammates. Of course they know they’re not the stars, but the term “role player” isn’t the most ringing endorsement. If you’re Trevor Ariza, is this what you want to hear before you’ve ever played a game with this team?

It’s wrong because the “stars” shouldn’t be minimizing the importance of all the team members. He can think it all he wants, but should never verbalize it. Not good for team morale. And when you consider Harden’s play at both ends of the court, he isn’t much above average anyway.

‘this is like the boss standing up in a meeting and telling everybody else they’re just cogs. Probably technically true, but not a real morale booster or team-building moment.’

And this isn’t Apple or IBM. The only reason copmpanies do that ‘one big team/everybody’s important’ spin is because the average corporate boss is probably making 3 times what his staff does,while only doing 10% as much actual work. When you’re busting 40-80hr weeks and your boss is taking 2 hour lunches, you NEED a morale boost.

NBA role players are being paid millions to play a game. Stars of the team are paid more because they actually DO more. When you’re fairly compensated for your actual worth, you shouldn’t need someone to artificially inflate your importance to make you ‘feel’ better.

Stupid comment by Harden! If he wants to go far in the playoffs you don’t dis your teammates even if they are role players. Basically what he said was “the rest of the guys don’t matter”. Some guys are going to be OK with that comment, but some aren’t. Come playoff time those kind of things can be an issue.

Harden is saying that he was not a CORNER STONE with Oklahoma City Thunder who did not win the championship last season. Now Harden is the CORNER STONE with Houston Rockets who should be much worse and weaker than his former team. Harden implies that Rockets should not expect to win because he is the ROCKETS’ CORNER STONE WHICH WAS ABANDONED BY THUNDER.

Lol, this is hilarious! It will be even funnier when they realize they have the same Fake love for each other that they feigned for Parsons last season,lol! It should happen right around the time Harden starts seeing Howard as less than a superstar cuz he can’t score quickly and/or easily on his own. Especially since Harden doesn’t seem to care about what Howard is good at, defense. Howard’s gripe, privately amongst his circle, never face to face, will be that Harden doesn’t play both ends of the floor.
This will get interesting I’m sure

Way to go Harden! Way to create that team unity and chemistry! I used to like him as a player and he seems like a cool dude, but, it looks like he’s turning out to be a real jerk. They will never win a championship with that attitude…, never!